Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 18 June 2025 - Strasbourg

Stopping the genocide in Gaza: time for EU sanctions (topical debate)

  Matjaž Nemec (S&D). – Madam President, dear colleagues, the horrors in Gaza continue. Innocent children and families are hunted for food, shot as targets every day by the Israeli army. Their only crime is hunger. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been murdered. Hospitals, schools, refugee centres are almost completely destroyed. Yet this is still not enough for some European leaders, including the Commission President and you, Ms Kallas.

Enough is enough. The EU needs to immediately suspend the Association Agreement. On Monday, this must be the conclusion. We also need to sanction the extremists in the Israeli Government. Five Western countries have done it, including the UK and Canada. Where is the EU? When, Ms Kallas, will you follow? Seriously, what more needs to happen?

We need a weapons embargo and an end to trade with the settlements. Yet, instead of diplomatic pressure to stop the genocide, Europe is deaf and blind. This is not just disappointing; this is morally sickening. Peace and justice now.